US 11,613,823 B2 · Actinide and rare earth drawdown system for molten salt recycle

Abstract

A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system for recycling molten salt, the system comprising:

a) a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt;
b) a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel;
c) a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel;
d) an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, wherein the anode comprises active material positioned coaxial to a cylinder defining an interior void adapted to receive off-gas;
and
e) a vehicle for positioning elemental metal within the electrolyte salt.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/724,705Filed 23 Dec 2019 · division

Priority

11 Jul 2016

Published

US 2020/0165735 A128 May 2020

Granted

28 Mar 2023

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

C25C 3/34
Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts: of metals not provided for in groups C25C3/02 - C25C3/32
C25C 7/005
Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells: of cells for the electrolysis of melts
C25C 7/06
Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells: operating or servicing
C25D 3/66
Electroplating: Baths therefor: from melts

Family

Application15/206,914Parent of this division · filed 11 Jul 2016

US 2020/0165735 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 May 2020

US 10,550,489 B2Parent of this division

US 2018/0010256 A1Published application

US 11,613,823 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Actinide and rare earth drawdown system for molten salt recycle

Life of this patent

Actinide and rare earth drawdown system for molten salt recycle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17